Upcoming Corn Bred Cornbread Renaissance sparks engagement for Iowa’s youth
Celebrate Iowa culture and Generation Z by joining in the Corn Fed Week and the Corn Bred Cornbread Renaissance, a six-day festival held in Des Moines.
Previously known as the Corn Bred Cornbread Festival, the now Corn Bred Cornbread Renaissance, will be held this year from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at 710 Corning Ave, in Des Moines.
Leading up to and following this event, is the Cornbread Fed Week. This six-day celebration, starting Monday, July 21, and ending Sunday, July 27, features the day-to-day themes of media, technology, wellness, thriving, fun and soulful.
Filled with food, music and activities, this third-annual jubilee is facilitated by Hip-Hope Inc. a nonprofit youth empowerment organization based in West Des Moines. “Believer” and Executive Director, Bo James emphasized the importance of growing minds by inviting young people of the community to direct the imaginative and creative processes of this event.
“They’re taking ownership, and they’re sitting at the table,” James said. “It’s the only festival that has ever existed in Iowa that is made for teens and tweens by teens and tweens.”
After removing the title ‘festival’ from this celebration, as enforced by state Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy, James said this gave inspiration to the Renaissance label.
“Renaissance means rebirth, it means a transition. It’s literally asking and answering a question, ‘What does the future of Iowa look like?’ So, this initiative is about what the future of Iowa looks like, it’s then showing Iowa by exhibiting what they have to offer,” he said.
For those like sixteen-year-old Ne’aLa James, Hip-Hope has been present in her life for as long as she can remember, and this celebration has cultivated a generational appreciation and pride for Iowa.
“I know a lot of people my age are always saying Iowa’s boring and we need to get out of here, but I think the Renaissance is actually something that will change that and shape Iowa in a different way and rebrand it,” she said.
“Older age groups, younger age groups, we’re more connected. We’re reunited. I feel like the community has just come together as one,” Ne’aLa James remarked.
Speaking directly to those in the community about the personal impact and importance of this event Ne’aLa James said, “This Renaissance means a lot to me because it’s just the youth showing everyone what we’re capable of. We’re showing them the future, because we are the future.”
Also involved in the directorial process behind this event, is sixteen-year-old Exec. Board Youth Director, Naomi Thames. After being invited by Bo James last year, she has attended meetings and placed importance on ideas that are engaging for the youth.
“I would say it means a lot because it represents the fact that kids and people of the younger generation can still have a say and what they have to say does matter and the things that are important to them do mean a lot to the adults,” Thames said.
When speaking about the cultural context, Thames spoke to a call and response of recent and long-standing issues. “It shows that in a world where people try to silence people who are younger because we don’t know a lot, or we’re not wise and we’re irresponsible, that there’s a place for us to go be together, bring our families, bring our friends and we don’t have to be ashamed to speak out.”
Since the upcoming events prioritize fostering the youth community, the Corn Fed Week and Corn Bred Cornbread Renaissance will showcase a variety of social outreach activities and organizations.
From partnering with Oak Studio Teen Tech Center at Mainframe Studios, the American Heart Association and the FOCUS Program, to featuring 20 gospel hip-hop artists on Sunday, July 17, and even providing ministry while giving away 100 pairs of shoes and 100 skateboards from Vans; Bo James signified that everyone in attendance should expect to walk away with new connections and a meaningful experience.
James hopes to relay a broader message saying, “Even if it starts small, the big goal is to be able to reach as many people as we can to show them that there is still humanity and there’s still good people in the world and people that care about them, no matter their age.”
To find out more about the Corn Fed Week activities and the Corn Bred Cornbread Renaissance, visit the website here. To register to be a food vendor apply here, or to become a table vendor, apply here.
To learn about Hip-Hope Inc., community programs and upcoming events look here.
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Fabulous, and please please attend the No King’s demonstration at the Capitol, at noon Saturday!
How does the word festival relate to to DEI?